Mercy Ship to visit The Gambia again

Mercy Ship MV Anastasis is to make a second visit to the Gambia on March 17, 2002, at the invitation of President Jammeh, sources at the Department of State for Health revealed. Mercy Ship, is an international Christian relief organisation that uses ocean going vessels to bring ‘hope and healing’ to the needy, by offering surgical and dental assistance, relief and development work as well as training in water, sanitation projects and primary health care.

During this visit, surgeries would be performed free of charge on patients with maxilla facial (surgery of the eye) orthopedic surgery on children with club feet, bowed legs, and severe contracture vesica-virginal fistula surgery for women, damaged through traumatic child birth.

It could be recalled that during the ship’s first visit to The Gambia, from January to May 2000, its medical crew successfully performed surgery on 628 adults and children for eye treatment and 427 maxilla facial and other forms of treatment to 2025 patients in the county. The ship is expected to stay for a duration of three months at the Banjul Port and would be hosted by the Department of State for Health.